Mrs. P's Singers and Ringers Blog

Since we’ve had some difficulty keeping a steady tempo on Joy and Elation, if you click on the title, you will be able to listen to a recording.  (When you get to the link, click on the yellow handbell symbol on the left to hear the recording.)  In this recording, the optional flute part is included, which simply doubles the melody the bells play.  I personally don’t think it adds a lot, but I’d be glad to hear your thoughts about it.  Please notice how clean and together the mart lifts are.

Can we make this song sound this good at our performances?

Danza, one of the pieces that beginning handbells is ringing for Winter Arts Festival, is a dance originally written in the 1500s.  We like to ring it at a fast tempo; it sounds better when we play more quickly. 

If you follow this link, you will be able to hear a recording of Danza.  This is from the online catalog at Handbell World, where we get most of our music and supplies.  Click on the yellow handbell icon to listen to the recording.  You will hear brass (trumpets, trombones, French horns) and percussion in addition to the handbells.  And they play it fast.

What do you think of this tempo?  What do you think a dance done to this music would look like?